Not pictured: Joe Jackson's belt.

If I believed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an institution or even an argument settler, I would insinuate myself as one of their exhibit planners and make sure there was a "Worst Dads in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" created every June. Why? Because for every bit of musical genius cluttering up that Cleveland carbuncle, there's a rotten patriarch behind the legend doing his best to lower his son or daughter's self-esteem and arguably inspire his best work.

Because of that last stipulation, the spawning of a rock legend, we can handily eliminate such celebrated do-wrong daddies as Papa John Phillips, who sexually abused his own daughter Mackenzie, turned her on to drugs at an early age, let Mick Jagger babysit her and perhaps most cruelest of all, had her replace hottie stepmom Michelle in a Mama Cass-less reunion of the Mamas and Papas.



And we can also eliminate those questionable calls you people are already calling out, like Billy Joel (who inadvertently forced daughter Alexis into years of ridicule when the gene pool gave her all of dad's good looks instead of supermodel mom Christie Brinkley) and Eric Clapton (oh, you people are cruel.)

Let's count 'em down, in order of severity:

More »

Yeah, these guys are probably on the list.

by Adam Steininger
Geeks love metal more than the computers on which they listen to it. They yearn for heavy metal forged by Orcs in the mountains of Mordor, smuggled halfway across the universe on Serenity, and then discovered by Silver Surfer while out scouting for delicious planets.

These bands aren't necessarily geeks themselves -- many could rip the head off a vile beast with their bare bear hands. They are just universally beloved by geek mortals of Earth because of their diction and artistic execution. These ten metal brethren will get thee mentally armored for the battlefield that is Comic Con. So take up arms, climb upon that faithful steed and unsheathe thy reading glasses for this deciphered binary code of the best geek-metal bands.

More »

Metalheads are some of the most devoted music fans on the planet. No--I mean we really love our music. Oh, you memorized Lady Gaga's music video dance moves? Check out my Kreator Coma of Souls back piece, and meet my friend's daughter, Sabbath. Later we're going to karaoke to cover Pantera and Motorhead. Wanna come?

But seriously. Not only do metalheads carry a voracious appetite for new music and bands, no matter how obscure, they also devour as much history, knowledge and insight about their beloved music as they possibly can. It's a lifestyle and obsession, and unlike many types of popular music, metalheads tend to embrace their favorite bands and follow them for decades. It seems like lately there's a new metal-related book, documentary or television special every time I turn around. Not that I'm complaining--it just goes to prove how many incredible fans there are out there.

More »

Sometimes it just takes one album.

I was watching the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony the other day. I usually don't watch a lot of made-for-TV rock and roll stuff, mainly because they try to be everything to everybody, but I couldn't resist tuning in to watch the RRHOF rectify the biggest of many head-shaking omissions from the list of inductees: Rush.

Being a Rush fan, I had to get that out of the way. But that's not the subject of this post (I'm pretty sure this isn't the way my Comp 101 teacher told me to set things up, but what the fuck). The subject is: 10 Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Who Never Topped Their Debut Album. (There ya go, teach.) Now let's talk about it.

See Also:
- Steve Wiley: How Much Money is Music Worth To You?
- Steve Wiley: Study Reveals - Kids Today Are Musically Spoiled Rotten

More »

A federal judge ruled last month that Sheriff Joe Arpaio was using racial profiling against Hispanics in Maricopa County. Many Phoenicians didn't need a judge to tell them that, but now it's at least been acknowledged by someone who has the power to demand change.

On the heels of the decision came the end of a massive recall effort meant to challenge Arpaio's contested sixth term as sheriff of Maricopa County. Ultimately, the recall failed, but the saga of Phoenix and Arpaio is far from over. So, here's a list of artists who have come out in opposition of Senate Bill 1070, the infamous "papers please" legislation.

More »

by K.C. Libman

Taylor Swift is far from just a female-only icon at this point. The erstwhile country star's crossover appeal has placed her firmly inside the pop pantheon, and it's more apparent than ever that Swift's infectious sound is the definition of radio-ready. Show me a red-blooded American male who doesn't know at least the chorus to "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and I'll show you a liar.

Men, there's no shame in loving Taylor Swift. You may even go as far as to count yourself in the ranks of the number of dedicated male "Swifties," if that kind of fandom suits your taste. For the less-involved, there's no reason why you should protest when your wives, daughters, girlfriends, or combinations thereof ask you to join them for Swift's second date at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale -- you may not want to admit it, but you'll be glad you tagged along.

More »

by Rick Giordano

Death has always been one of the most predominant themes in heavy metal music, taking a backseat maybe only to Satanism. Death, disease, murder and chaos have accompanied heavy riffs since Sabbath first began playing them back in '68. This dark subject matter is part of what has always made metal controversial -- revolting to some, but appealing to those musicians interested in facing the things we all fear. But there's often a strange irony that comes into play when we have to realize that these musicians are also human beings, capable of falling victim to the very horrors they seem to embrace.

Disclaimer: In no way do I intend to make light of these deaths. Many of these musicians were heroes of mine and died far too early. Also, one that might seem like an obvious choice, Dimebag Darrell's death, will not be included here. Getting shot and killed for no reason is a hip-hop way to die, not a metal one.

Read More:
- RIP Jeff Hanneman: Does this mean the end of Slayer?
- Nine Metallers Dead Before Their Time

More »

Oliver Scherillo

The cheapest way to sleep at Coachella.

Let's face it: Arizona isn't exactly prime real estate for music festivals. Yes, we have the party-hard atmosphere of Country Thunder and the locally beloved McDowell Mountain Music Fest, the EDM-drenched Soundwave and some killer jazz fests. But our fair desert doesn't yet have the appeal or pull of such festivals as Lollapalooza, Orion, Coachella, South by Southwest, Austin City Limits, Electric Daisy, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands--the list goes on.

For the avid music fan on a tight budget and unforgiving economy, deciding which festivals (if any) to travel to can be a frustrating experience. I myself encountered this same conundrum for 2013. Which music festivals was I going to budget for? How many days would I forgo the grocery store and live off canned soup and well whiskey? And sometimes, even if you do budget well for a festival, it's difficult to take into account unforeseen costs once you are already there: Cabs and rental cars, food, drinks, even water on-site.

Take SXSW, for example. The difficult-to-book flights to Austin, hundreds of dollars a night hotel rooms (even for the dinky ones), and days' worth of food and drinks. Ditto for Coachella and Lollapalooza. Thus I decided to compile some tips and tricks to survive festivals on a budget for all you other awesome music lovers out there--so read on and then book away.

More »

America wants to be close to Jay-Z and Beyonce. Desperately close. Hashtag close. Because they are officially the last celebrities who have not turned their life together into a weekly show on Bravo, they've hoovered up the country's remaining supply of Camelot-style mythos and gravitas. And because it's 2013, the result is an intense desire to name their child with hashtags.

Beyonce is pregnant again, and #BeyonceBabyNames returned to Twitter with a vengeance on Friday, after a year and a half off. The best part about it is that right now it seems like half of the tweeters are making jokes and the other half just really want to give Beyonce an adorable baby name to use on Blue Ivy's sibling. Here are our 10 favorite examples (so far.) Feel free to use any of them yourself, in case Beyonce (for some reason) doesn't.

Read More:
- Top 10 Miranda Lambert Songs about Brutal, Brutal Revenge
- Top 10 Ridiculously Overproduced Matchbox Twenty Songs (I Love Anyway)

More »

Ma'am, please step away from the acoustic guitar.

I don't come by country music fandom naturally; people who do tell me that there are many reasons to enjoy the music of Miranda Lambert. But the most accessible route to Miranda Lambert appreciation ahead of Thursday's concert at Desert Sky Pavilion, so far as I can tell, is through her songs about taking a vicious and final revenge on men who have done her or someone else wrong.

Here, then, are 10 of those songs. Please be careful around her.

More »